cross wiring/support pins

[shelley]

Thanks so much for advice on venilation holes.

I have another question about cross wiring wax foundations.

I am using support pins to hold wax foundation and wonder if I should also wire horizontally. I'm using wired foundation on the brood chambers and no wire on shallow super frames. I have support pins, but should I wire also?

Thanks.

[tecumseh]

the support pins are usually used when you don't wire (the pins and the wire would occupy the same holes) and most typically when you utilied crimped wired foundation. I find that the horizontal wires may be more criticial in some circumstances than others..... on very small frames not so essential if you are VERY careful, likely essential on all frames if you work bees when the weather is fairly hot*, likely essential on larger frames if you don't want them to warp or sag.

*I rarely say never... but never hold an unwired full depth frame flat to the horizontal plane when the air temperature is hot.

[riverrat]

I like to cross wire my frames if I am going to be extracting them. Its a little added insurance.

[Benton2569]

I was taught to cross wire my large and medium frames (don't know about the smalls since they are very uncommon around here). It was a little inconvenient at first but they have never sagged or blown our during extraction.

I figure it is worth the time and effort since I would be pretty bummed if I did not do it and they crapped out on me.

[Michael Palmer]

I would say don't waste your time with support pins, and use the two center wires. Support pins will only hold the edges of the foundation straight. The centers will bow.

[Bee'z waxed]

*I rarely say never... but never hold an unwired full depth frame flat to the horizontal plane when the air temperature is hot.

That's an interesting mental picture. It seems intuitive but, had you had not said that, I could see myself doing just that... then 'plop' and a bunch of ticked off bees... Thanks!

Question - pins versus bobbie pins.. Any thoughts? (And I still don't understand about the 'lemon grass' thing.. never read about that in ANY book..)

[Michael Palmer]

Question - pins versus bobbie pins.. Any thoughts?

Bobby pins are worse than standard pins...which are worthless. The Bobby pins stick out of the end bars, and catch on the frame rest as you're trying to remove or replace the frames in the hive.

[BkprScott]

I have over 3000 honey frames and about 1800 deep frames that have bobby pins holding them in. Never had one blow out or bow. Trick on the end bars too. Take a hammer and tap them flush on the outside of the end bar, and they wont catch on anything.

[wayacoyote]

After loosing a lot of foundation during hot weather, I started wiring and gave up the pins. I keep them around for a few uses.
1 when the foundation has a crinkle in the edge
2 straightening out a comb or holding a comb that was cut out of a wild hive

I pull the pins out once the comb is attached to the frame well enough to suit me, and then I can reuse them.

[Grant]

I got into the habit of cross wiring when I had a tangential extractor. I didn't think it mattered until I ruined quite a few frames that I had assembled earlier in the season and didn't want to bother with the extra time and labor of wiring (they call it "being lazy").

Even now, with a radial extractor, I still like to wire my wax foundation, though more and more, I'm using plastic.

Grant
Jackson, MO